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[[File:Pictures of English History Plate I - Druids, or British Priests.jpg|thumb|Druids with oak leaf wreaths harvesting mistletoe; [[w:Joseph Martin Kronheim|Joseph Martin Kronheim]] (1810-96)]]
[[File:Pictures of English History Plate I - Druids, or British Priests.jpg|thumb|Druids with oak leaf wreaths harvesting mistletoe; [[w:Joseph Martin Kronheim|Joseph Martin Kronheim]] (1810-96)]]


'''Druids''' acted as [[initiate]]s in the '''Druid Mysteries''' and in the '''Scandinavian Mysteries''', the so-called '''Drottes Mysteries'', and formed the spiritual elite of the Celts. Druidesses worked as seers and fortune tellers. The origin of the name is disputed. [[w:Pliny the Elder|Pliny the Elder]] derives it from the {{Greek|δρυς}} (''drys'' "oak"), since the mistletoe growing on the oaks was of particular cultic and medicinal importance to the Druids<ref>Pliny: ''Naturalis historia'' 16,&nbsp;249.</ref>. The well-known image of the white-clad druids cutting mistletoe from the trees with their golden sickle also goes back to Pliny. [[w:Posidonius|Posidonius]] (135-51 BC) characterises the Druids as wise philosophers. Other ancient authors, however, also describe the Druids hosting cruel sacrificial ceremonies in which people were killed by a dagger thrust above the diaphragm in order to predict the future from their death twitches<ref>[[Wikipedia:Diodorus Siculus|Diodorus]]: ''Bibliotheca historica'', 5,&nbsp;31; [[Wikipedia:Strabo|Strabo]]: ''Geographika'', 4,&nbsp;4, 5</ref> and people were offered as burnt offerings in willow braids that were supposed to represent images of gods. According to Caesar's account in the Gallic War<ref>[[w:Julius Cäsar|Julius Cäsar]]: ''Commentarii de bello Gallico'' 6, 13-14.</ref>, the Druids advocated the doctrine of rebirth. The church fathers [[w:Hippolytus of Rome|Hippolytus of Rome]] and [[w:Clement of Alexandria|Clement of Alexandria]] saw a connection with the teachings of [[Pythagoras]].  
'''Druids''' acted as [[initiate]]s in the '''Druid Mysteries''' and in the '''Scandinavian Mysteries''', the so-called '''Drottes Mysteries''', and formed the spiritual elite of the Celts. Druidesses worked as seers and fortune tellers. The origin of the name is disputed. [[w:Pliny the Elder|Pliny the Elder]] derives it from the {{Greek|δρυς}} (''drys'' "oak"), since the mistletoe growing on the oaks was of particular cultic and medicinal importance to the Druids<ref>Pliny: ''Naturalis historia'' 16,&nbsp;249.</ref>. The well-known image of the white-clad druids cutting mistletoe from the trees with their golden sickle also goes back to Pliny. [[w:Posidonius|Posidonius]] (135-51 BC) characterises the Druids as wise philosophers. Other ancient authors, however, also describe the Druids hosting cruel sacrificial ceremonies in which people were killed by a dagger thrust above the diaphragm in order to predict the future from their death twitches<ref>[[Wikipedia:Diodorus Siculus|Diodorus]]: ''Bibliotheca historica'', 5,&nbsp;31; [[Wikipedia:Strabo|Strabo]]: ''Geographika'', 4,&nbsp;4, 5</ref> and people were offered as burnt offerings in willow braids that were supposed to represent images of gods. According to Caesar's account in the Gallic War<ref>[[w:Julius Cäsar|Julius Cäsar]]: ''Commentarii de bello Gallico'' 6, 13-14.</ref>, the Druids advocated the doctrine of rebirth. The church fathers [[w:Hippolytus of Rome|Hippolytus of Rome]] and [[w:Clement of Alexandria|Clement of Alexandria]] saw a connection with the teachings of [[Pythagoras]].  


== Literature ==
== Literature ==
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* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Der Jahreskreislauf als Atmungsvorgang der Erde und die vier großen Festeszeiten'', [[GA 223]] (1990), ISBN 3-7274-2231-9 {{Lectures|223}}
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Der Jahreskreislauf als Atmungsvorgang der Erde und die vier großen Festeszeiten'', [[GA 223]] (1990), ISBN 3-7274-2231-9 {{Lectures|223}}
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Initiationswissenschaft und Sternenerkenntnis'', [[GA 228]] (2002), ISBN 3-7274-2280-7 {{Lectures|228}}
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Initiationswissenschaft und Sternenerkenntnis'', [[GA 228]] (2002), ISBN 3-7274-2280-7 {{Lectures|228}}
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Aus den Inhalten der esoterischen Stunden, Band I: 1904 – 1909'', [[GA 266/1]] (1995), ISBN 3-7274-2661-6 {{Schule|266a}}
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Aus den Inhalten der esoterischen Stunden, Band I: 1904 – 1909'', [[GA 266/1]] (1995), ISBN 3-7274-2661-6 {{Lectures|266a}}
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Rhythmen im Kosmos und im Menschenwesen. Wie kommt man zum Schauen der geistigen Welt?'', [[GA 350]] (1991), ISBN 3-7274-3500-3 {{Lectures|350}}
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Rhythmen im Kosmos und im Menschenwesen. Wie kommt man zum Schauen der geistigen Welt?'', [[GA 350]] (1991), ISBN 3-7274-3500-3 {{Lectures|350}}


{{GA}}
{{GA}}
== References ==
<references />


[[Category:Initiation]]
[[Category:Initiation]]

Revision as of 23:57, 23 September 2021

Druids with oak leaf wreaths harvesting mistletoe; Joseph Martin Kronheim (1810-96)

Druids acted as initiates in the Druid Mysteries and in the Scandinavian Mysteries, the so-called Drottes Mysteries, and formed the spiritual elite of the Celts. Druidesses worked as seers and fortune tellers. The origin of the name is disputed. Pliny the Elder derives it from the Greek: δρυς (drys "oak"), since the mistletoe growing on the oaks was of particular cultic and medicinal importance to the Druids[1]. The well-known image of the white-clad druids cutting mistletoe from the trees with their golden sickle also goes back to Pliny. Posidonius (135-51 BC) characterises the Druids as wise philosophers. Other ancient authors, however, also describe the Druids hosting cruel sacrificial ceremonies in which people were killed by a dagger thrust above the diaphragm in order to predict the future from their death twitches[2] and people were offered as burnt offerings in willow braids that were supposed to represent images of gods. According to Caesar's account in the Gallic War[3], the Druids advocated the doctrine of rebirth. The church fathers Hippolytus of Rome and Clement of Alexandria saw a connection with the teachings of Pythagoras.

Literature
References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated.
Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com.
Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books
A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works
Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English.
Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold
steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA)
Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.

References

  1. ↑ Pliny: Naturalis historia 16, 249.
  2. ↑ Diodorus: Bibliotheca historica, 5, 31; Strabo: Geographika, 4, 4, 5
  3. ↑ Julius Cäsar: Commentarii de bello Gallico 6, 13-14.
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